Advice Needed | Started Own Clothing Website

Associatedmissmelb @ betweenthelinesclothing.com.au on 13/11/2016 - 10:08

Hi guys,

I've started my own Clothing Business and seeking your feedback. All are my designs and the niche of the store is unisex clothing / breaking gender barriers with clothing.

I would love your thoughts about the designs and also website feedback as I'm just trying to get off the ground (all within a three week period).

Currently I have also got a 5 percent off coupon for the first purchase 5PERCENTFIRST. You're all welcome to use it!

Website is www.betweenthelinesclothing.com.au.

Look forward to your thoughts! :)

General Discussion

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Comments

  • MynyMouqe on 13/11/2016 - 10:27
    +11

    You're kidding right… $20 for some socks with between written on them, and $50 for a basic print T-shirt??

    • Associatedmissmelb @ betweenthelinesclothing.com.au on 13/11/2016 - 10:48

      Yes good point! I'm trying to work out how I can get the pricing down. The print costs are extremely high that it means that even make a few dollars a t-shirt. The all over tshirts are quite expensive to print, the only ones that come down in costs are the direct to print prices. I'm using printful to do the print and shipping…

      The normal prints come in at around $38. Do you think that is still pricey?

      Socks are ridiculous priced with the print guys….I'm debating whether I should even bother.

      • spackbace on 13/11/2016 - 10:56
        +2

        Yeah sorry but that looks way too pricey. To charge that much you'd have to be either:
        a) a charity (ie more profits going back to the charity),
        b) a designer or surf label, or
        c) something really amazing or revolutionary

      • MynyMouqe on 13/11/2016 - 10:59
        +2

        Not being funny, but it seems like you've started a little business with no idea of your target market, supply chain, etc - are you going for the LGBTI croud, who may be happier to pay a little more - in which case, you may be fine with the high thirties pricing, but you'll have to have stock and have them at events to build your brand (think the OitO festival, etc.) - you'll have to have different styles as well, not just colours. Of course, this will require a bit more of an investment on your end!

        (I'd suggest mid $20's is more of an "impulse buy" price point myself, given any potential buyers have no idea of quality, durability, etc - just my opinion though!)

        Keep in mind, you're always going to end up being a niche at these things, so you want to be making a decent margin on them! Making a couple of dollars per item isn't really sustainable, and you're not really fixing a massive problem - girls have been buying clothes from boy isles for a very long time, and generally don't have any issues with it, so you have to make it profitable and workable for you.

        • Associatedmissmelb @ betweenthelinesclothing.com.au on 13/11/2016 - 11:02
          +1

          Thanks appreciate your feedback. It's something I've been doing myself buying from men's aisles and wanted to do something about it. I much prefer men's clothes but sometimes it's a pain going to stores which are so focused on men.

  • Savas on 13/11/2016 - 10:55
    +1

    Yeah I'm sorry dude. I don't get why females and males have to be the same, isn't that we a different a good thing?

    Also White Ribbon Day is coming up so maybe you could try promoting that through a sale or get a contract idk

    • Associatedmissmelb @ betweenthelinesclothing.com.au on 13/11/2016 - 11:04
      +1

      hahaha yes but you're talking to a lesbian that likes to wear clothes that are not so girly and there are some fantastic men's clothes with patters such as Burton Men's and Topman for starters. If only they produce more stuff like that for woman!

      Thanks I'll look into White Ribbon Day - cheers!

  • altomic on 13/11/2016 - 10:58
    +5

    the niche of the store is unisex clothing / breaking gender barriers with clothing.

    I look forward to seeing your unisex bras :)

    • Associatedmissmelb @ betweenthelinesclothing.com.au on 13/11/2016 - 11:04
      +5

      There's definitely some guys that could use them for their man boobs! :D

  • Ughhh on 13/11/2016 - 11:07
    +2

    Sorry but I wouldn't buy.
    1. Not liking the designs (coming from a female)
    2. Price is not worth it for the above reason and for a no name "brand". Can't even show off and be one of those people who buy designer just to look cool.

    • Associatedmissmelb @ betweenthelinesclothing.com.au on 13/11/2016 - 11:13

      Thanks - would you mind PMing me to let you know your sexuality? Would be interested to know as my target audience is really the gay community.

      • Ughhh on 13/11/2016 - 11:24

        I'm straight, but sometimes I like non-slim fitting tees too (something casual) if I like the print.

        Id imagine that it's mostly females who want less girly clothes who have difficulty finding/trying on clothes in store? Feeling awkward and/or feeling judged? Ordering online wouldn't have that problem. You'd probably do well if you open a bricks and mortar store. You could be competing with jay jays though.

        • Associatedmissmelb @ betweenthelinesclothing.com.au on 13/11/2016 - 11:34

          awesome thanks for that I really appreciate it.

          It's definitely been hard for me to get items where I'm always having to go to the mens sections. Hence why, I thought it would be a good opportunity. I just have to play with the pricing so that I can make a little money but not overcharge - such a hard thing to work out at the start. :)

          And yes, I think I might need to have some sort of store, maybe at markets to start with. I thought I might try and target some of the pride events.

        • Ughhh on 13/11/2016 - 17:37
          +1

          @missmelb:

          Good luck and all the best!

  • Settero on 13/11/2016 - 12:29

    why does your site say "includes taxes" on every item , its kinda the law to have gst included ? makes me think there's a hidden tax , would explain the high prices…

    • Associatedmissmelb @ betweenthelinesclothing.com.au on 13/11/2016 - 18:06
      +1

      Good point - I'll remove that off the page. It is something that I've put up not realising it probably doesn't need to be there.

    • whooah1979 on 15/11/2016 - 11:02

      its kinda the law to have gst included

      To be fair. Op isn't required to charge gst unless their operations meets the criteria to do so.

  • mini2 on 14/11/2016 - 08:55
    +1

    Prices are too high and the conversations potentially sparked by the tee's could be quite polarising at best…

    Unfortunately Threadless kinda nailed it.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/11/2016 - 10:02
    +1

    It is unfortunate that you have chosen the name of an already well established clothing line.
    Have you checked for trade-mark, name registration violations?

    • Associatedmissmelb @ betweenthelinesclothing.com.au on 14/11/2016 - 17:12

      what? I did check and did heaps of searches! Damn! I've even went through ASIC and trademarked the name….

      • spackbace on 14/11/2016 - 17:43
        +1

        Did this search?

        Looks like the store is now defunct

        Wait, here

      • [Deactivated] on 15/11/2016 - 10:31
        +1

        I don't know what the implications are for trading in Australia, but if you get off the ground and see the US as a potential market then you may have a few issues with already established names.

  • chichi on 14/11/2016 - 11:32
    +1

    I like the look of your site. The products aren't my thing but I think there would be plenty who they would appeal to. As for the pricing - while it is more than I would pay - I have seen plain tees etc costing the same or more on other sites.

    Good luck!

  • taril on 14/11/2016 - 14:20
    +1

    Hi

    Just a few comments

    1) From a security point of view, the site should be protected with a SSL certificate, especially the login, accounts, payment etc. where a private data is being transferred. Ideally, the whole site should be utilising certificate to protect all the data in transit. In the same token, what security have you got in place to protect data at rest? e.g. is the database stored on the same web server? is the database encrypted, is the credit card data stored on the database or are you redirecting to a separate credit card processor etc?

    Have a quick look at PCI-DSS requiments.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payment_Card_Industry_Data_Sec…

    You need to review your current security measures in place to ensure your client data is protected adequately based on the countries you sell to, as privacy / data protection laws differ between jurisdiction.

    I think the site may be using a basic e-store web template, and the code should be reviewed and or checked against known vulnerabilities.

    You may want to get a penetration testing done on your online store to ensure any weak security is identified and enough controls are in place to mitigate as much risks as possible in case a breach occurs so you can show that you have performed due dilligence.

    2) from payment point of view, cash on delivery (COD) and Stripe is available. Is this the case?

    3) from UI perspectives, i think having 3 sub categories are redundant due to lack of available products. A single top level category for clothes and accessories should suffice, until your product offerings increase. Seeing 1 product in sub category and then 8 other products immediately below it looks a bit cluttered to me.

    Good luck with your new venture!

    EDIT : added PCI-DSS

    • Associatedmissmelb @ betweenthelinesclothing.com.au on 14/11/2016 - 17:14

      Thanks for that - definitely don't do COD and Stripe - I have to remove those. Thanks for the pickup!

      I haven totally missed the ball with PCI-DSS - thanks, I'll get onto it ASAP and a SSL certificate.

  • Reggie74 on 14/11/2016 - 16:48
    +1

    Firstly, good on you for putting your neck out there & giving it a go & starting your own business.

    Secondly, I think the prices are too expensive for an unknown brand. I think you're limiting yourself having a target audience. As it's been previously mentioned, Jay Jay's would be in a similar market with lower prices.

    • [Deactivated] on 15/11/2016 - 10:33
      +1

      Ryderwear was an unknown brand in 2009. I remember them starting up behind my gym.
      I thought at the time that their prices were a bit high for gym wear, but they managed to get a foot in the market.
      Look at them now!
      Have faith.

      • Associatedmissmelb @ betweenthelinesclothing.com.au on 15/11/2016 - 20:16

        Thanks Ninjastud! :)

      • mini2 on 19/11/2016 - 11:26
        +2

        For every successful startup unfortunately there's probably 100+ fallen, forgotten and never quite survive beyond the first year…

  • malouphix on 21/11/2016 - 10:45
    +1

    Perhaps join an entrepreneur/fashion/e-commerce groups or forums and reaserach/search for better deals on printing. Your current printing costs seem really high. The high prices you are charging won't help. Find better suppliers, supply chain and etc….drive your cost down, charge more reasonable prices and make better margins. Everyone is happy.
    You should be able to find local groups via your local co-share 'startup' space, Meetup.com and Eventbrite.

    Here's a couple in Melbourne
    http://www.meetup.com/MelbourneEcommerce/
    https://www.meetup.com/cities/au/melbourne/fashion-beauty/

    Good luck with your venture.

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